Commissioners support invoking 10(j) rule to control wolves

By Michael Howell

The Ravalli County Commissioners passed a resolution last week in support of a request made by the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to invoke the (10j) rule of the Endangered Species Act rule to permit the taking of wolves in Ravalli County until Montanas wolf management plan is reinstated. RCFWA made the request to ensure the scientific management of wolf and elk populations, and the long-term viability of the Bitterroot Valleys hunting and agricultural economy. A dozen sportsmens and wildlife groups from around the state have supported the request.
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Successful 5th Annual Veterans Stand Down held

By Michael Howell

For the fifth year in a row, veterans from all over the valley (and some from beyond) showed up in Hamilton for the Veterans Stand Down to take advantage of the free offerings that spanned the spectrum of veterans needs. The event, held at the National Guard Armory in Hamilton last Saturday, was sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America Post #938, the Valley Veterans Service Center and American Legion Post #94.
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It was standing room only at the Veterans Stand Down inside the National Guard Armory in Hamilton last Saturday, as veterans from around the valley and beyond took advantage of the free offerings extravaganza hosted by their fellow veterans, especially the Vietnam Veterans of America Post#938, in cooperation with the Valley Veterans Service Center, American Legion Post #94, and a host of individual local businesses, government agencies, and other organizations and individuals. Michael Howell photo.

Blood pressure monitoring was offered for free along with a host of other health related and assistance related services at the 5th annual Veterans Stand Down. Vietnam Veteran Jim Culpepper appears to be enjoying the attention bestowed upon him by Nurse Cate Clark of Marcus Daly Home Help and Hospice, as she takes his blood pressure at the event last Saturday.

Culpepper was overheard expressing his appreciation for all the services that were being provided. He nodded toward the station where Dee Golas was standing and said that her therapeutic help had been invaluable to him.

When Nurse Clark mentioned that Culpepper seemed to have a very positive attitude toward life, he responded by saying that his own turnaround after having many problems dealing with his experience in the Vietnam War and afterward at home was when a close friend said to him that veterans needed to concentrate less on what the Vietnam War did to them, and start looking at what they got from the war.

I said, What do you mean? What did I got from Vietnam?, Culpepper related. He said, Like how observant you are of nature. Culpepper just nodded after saying this, but you could see in his eyes that his friends comments had touched on something real. Something very positive, something very important, something very enriching in the end, that Culpepper had brought back from Vietnam. Michael Howell photo.

Museum undergoes overhaul and launches Cupola Campaign

By Michael Howell

The Ravalli County Museum is not only undergoing a face lift and a structural overhaul, thanks to some recent legislation and some federal grants, but plans are in the works to give the museums programs and exhibits an overhaul at the same time, according to Museum Director Tamar Stanley. That will mean closing down the museum for the winter.
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The historic cupola of the domed roof of the Ravalli County Museum is in a sad state of disrepair. As a result the museum is kicking off a Cupola Campaign to raise the money required to repair the historic cupola, designed by famed architect A.J. Gibson. According to Wikepedia, the cupola is a development of the oculus, an ancient device found in Roman architecture, but with the cupola being weatherproof it is superior for the wetter climates of northern Europe, which were influential during the Renaissance. The word derives, via Italian, from the lower Latin cupula (classical Latin cupella from the Greek kypellon) small cup (Latin cupa) indicating a vault resembling an upside down cup. Michael Howell photo.

The cupola that graces the top atop the Ravalli County Museum building offers a fair view of the town. Although cupolas often serve as belfries, this one serves more as a belvedere, that is an architectural term adopted from Italian (literally "fair view"), which refers to any architectural structure sited to take advantage of such a view. Michael Howell photo.

Commission approves ARRA grant for Sheriffs Office

By Michael Howell

The County Commissioners gave their unanimous approval to accept an America Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant for $225,000 for use by the Sheriffs Office. According to unofficial minutes of the meeting, Sheriff Chris Hoffman stated there is potential to help pay for CTS ($51,663) as well as put another deputy on the streets with a patrol car ($52,576). CTS is a software program that integrates functions at the Sheriffs Office such as detention, dispatching, report writing and other record keeping.
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